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Researchers found that the risk of suicide was highest among those who had a health problem and who therefore struggled to work or take part in family life or leisure activities.

Former soldiers who killed themselves were also more likely to be older, white, better educated and more likely to have been married than other suicides.

The authors said that their findings had substantial clinical and public health implications. Doctors needed to be alert for signs of "suicidal intent" among veterans.

The MoD said British studies had not shown a higher suicide rate among veterans.

But yesterday the veterans minister, Derek Twigg, announced an expansion of the Medical Assessment Programme, established in 1993 to help those returning from the first Gulf War.

A spokesman said: "The extension will open up the programme to all veterans with operational service since 1982. "They can receive a free assessment if they feel they have a condition linked to service."

The Government has spent £12.5 million treating more than 1,000 servicemen and women at centres run by the Priory Group since December 2003, when it became the MoD's main provider of mental health services.